Delayed start: ODOT to shut down 315 from 750 to Jewett

Delaware County drivers who thought detour signs and orange barrels had left state Route 315 for good are in for a rude awakening.

The Ohio Department of Transportation on May 12 reopened Route 315 north of state Route 750, near Powell. ODOT initially planned to close Route 315 south of Route 750 for 50 days June 5, but department spokeswoman Nancy Burton said the closure has been rescheduled to begin the morning of June 12 at the contractor's request.

The closures are part of a $3.6 million effort to prevent the Olentangy River from further eroding the slope alongside the roadway.

The northern leg of the intersection closed in late January to allow workers to install a retaining wall on the east side of Route 315, which also is known as Olentangy River Road. ODOT will close the roadway south of Route 750 to Jewett Road in Liberty Township starting next week to complete similar work.

The department previously closed the southern leg of the intersection in January for tree-clearing and utility-relocation work.

The closure south of Route 750, which also is known as Powell Road, will occur just after the completion of another project farther north on Olentangy River Road.

ODOT closed Route 315 between Orange and Home roads June 5 to replace two culverts -- a project expected to wrap up by 3 p.m. Friday, June 9.

ODOT also has plans to complete more work on Olentangy River Road's slope in coming years.

Department spokeswoman Breanna Badanes previously said sections of Route 315 north of Route 750, near Bunty Station, Hyatts and Winter roads, are targets for erosion-related improvements but likely not until at least 2020.

The slope-stabilization project caps multiple efforts by the state to improve Route 315 at Route 750 in the past few years. Workers added turn lanes to the intersection in 2013 and 2014 and constructed a concrete wall on the west side of the roadway in 2015.

Powell initially planned to conduct a traffic study at the Murphy Parkway extension six months after its fall opening, but Canavan said the city has been waiting for work to wrap up on Route 315 and traffic patterns to return to normal.